I’ve always loved diamonds - the Crown Jewels and royal tiaras have long fascinated me.
So, when the opportunity arrived to see the Accession Exhibition at Buckingham Palace, I jumped at the chance to go and see them close up. “I’m not interested in tiaras” grumbled my husband.
“But we can see the State Rooms, all nineteen of them,” I pleaded “and make a day of it.”
On Thursday September 8 we took the train to London, with no inkling of the momentous event which would transpire later that day.
After queuing for about twenty minutes, we went through airport-style security, and entered the magnificent palace. Awestruck, I looked around at the hundred odd other visitors of different nationalities.
This, my first experience of visiting such a historical venue, gave me insight and understanding of why people from all over the world would make the effort to come to pay homage.
Up the gilt-bronze balustrade on the Grand Staircase, past the lavish silk damask on the walls of the Green Drawing Room, we were dazzled by the royal splendour of the Throne Room with its gilded ceiling and glittering chandeliers. It struck me at the time how forlorn the two small thrones, monogrammed for the Queen and Prince Philip, looked standing empty on the dais.
Finally, we entered the Exhibition itself, showcasing portraits of Queen Elizabeth taken shortly after she was crowned in 1952. Also on display was the personal jewellery that she wore.
First on show was a small, simple gold crown and a cream dress with purple robe that the 11-year-old future Queen wore at her parents’ coronation.
I gazed at the glittering diamonds of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, longed for my personal favourite, the Vladimir Tiara with its teardrop cabochon emerald pendants. Matching that was the Delhi Durbar Necklace, platinum with sparkling diamonds, emeralds and the marquise-cut CullinanV11. I noticed how slender the Queen’s neck was to accommodate these wonderful jewels.
Until I saw Dorothy Wilding’s portraits close up, I had not realised how beautiful Elizabeth was in her youth. She really looked happy and glorious, with a wonderful profile, perfect for stamps.
Pleased that we had made the effort and delighted by what we had seen, we eventually caught the train back home. I think it was at around 4pm that the news feeds came through our phones. The sense of foreboding grew stronger as we kept checking our screens. Family rushing up to Balmoral, the BBC clearing its schedules and news announcers donning black ties told its own story.
Through tears which I did not quite understand I followed the proceedings and the news updates on all channels for the next few days.
I am glad that I have been to the palace and seen the moving pictures of the young Queen. It feels strange, almost like a pilgrimage before the event.
The Imperial State Crown, resplendent with its diamonds, sapphires, pearls, emeralds and rubies lies on The Royal Standard cloth. Next to it is the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, bearing the Cullinan 1, the world’s largest diamond.
But the real treasure lies not on the catafalque but inside the coffin.
Queen Elizabeth II truly was the greatest jewel in the crown.
